Clergymen took to themselves wives, and had families. Again and again
their consciences justified them in their course, whatever the Canon
Law might forbid or denounce. They married on the sly--if that may be
called marriage which neither the Church nor the State recognized as
a binding contract, and which was ratified by no formality or
ceremony civil or religious: but public opinion was lenient; and
where a clergyman was living otherwise a blameless life, his people
did not think the worse of him for having a wife and children,
however much the Canon Law and certain bigoted people might give the
wife a bad name. And so it came to pass that Peter Romayn of Rougham,
cleric though he were, lost his heart one fine day to a young lady at
Rougham, and marry he would. The young lady's name was Matilda. Her
father, though born at Rougham, appears to have gone away from there
when very young, and made money somehow at Leicester. He had married
a Norfolk lady, one Agatha of Cringleford; and he seems to have died,
leaving his widow and daughter fairly provided for; and they lived in
a house at Rougham, which I dare say Richard of Leicester had bought.
I have no doubt that young Peter Romayn was a young gentleman of
means, and it is clear that Matilda was a very desirable bride. But
then Peter _couldn't_ marry! How was it to be managed? I think
it almost certain that no religious ceremony was performed, but I
have no doubt that the two plighted their troth either to each, and
that somehow they did become man and wife, if not in the eyes of
Canon Law, yet by the sanction of a higher law to which the
consciences of honourable men and women appeal against the immoral
enactments of human legislation.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81